Violence Against Shia Worshippers in Afghanistan: Seven Killed in Herat Mosque Attack

IQNA – A group of unidentified attackers launched a deadly assault on a Shia mosque in northwestern Afghanistan, resulting in the tragic loss of seven lives, including that of a child.

The incident occurred in the Guzara District of Herat Province and was reported by local news outlets TOLOnews and Aamaj, which cited sources close to the event.

The Shia congregation was in the midst of prayers when the assailants struck, claiming the life of the mosque's imam among others and leaving several injured.

No individual or organization has claim responsibility for this heinous act.

This attack mirrors a previous one in December, where a rickshaw carrying Shia clerics and women was targeted in the provincial capital of Herat, resulting in an equal number of fatalities.

The Shia Muslim community, primarily composed of individuals from the Hazara ethnic group, represents a minority in Afghanistan. Despite constituting approximately 22% of the nation's population, they have been subjected to repeated acts of violence, including kidnappings and killings, often orchestrated by the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

In a related incident last year, a bombing by the same group struck a mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, claiming the lives of at least 31 worshippers and injuring over 80, further underscoring the ongoing threats faced by the Shia community in Afghanistan.

Source: Agencies